I really can't explain it. Out of all the titles partnered with the words Only on iFlix, I had to choose the one that's obviously from the horror genre. But can you blame me? Look at that... it's a dude made out of teeth. I had to find out why. I was probably going to regret it, but I had to.
Channel Zero, as it turned out, is an anthology series from Syfy. TV series from the network are usually a hit or miss for me, so this particular title wasn't on my radar at all. Every season will feature a different story that has gained popularity at the horror website Creepypasta. The website features short stories on all kinds of horror, some inspired by urban legends, and can include all kinds of monsters, aliens or humans doing monstrous things. The first season features Candle Cove by Kris Straub, told in the perspective of people who reminisce about a puppet show that, upon recollection, was all kinds of disturbing.
In the adaptation of the story, Candle Cove is a puppet show about adventuring pirates that children stumble upon (whether in randomly changing the TV's dial or the TV turning itself on and the program would be running). The show ran in the 80s, when Mike Painter (Paul Schneider) and his twin brother Eddie were still young. During that time Eddie and four other children went missing, with the authorities discovering the bodies of the four children after a period of time. Eddie was never found, and Mike grew up to be a famous child psychologist. Mike decides to return to his hometown in Iron Hill, Ohia where his mother Marla (Fiona Shaw) and childhood friend Jessica Yolen (Natalie Brown) still live, his mind fixed on his missing brother. His mind is also on the show Candle Cove, especially when he finds out that Jessica's children are watching it.
I would encounter Creepypasta stories when I check out new entries at Creepy Catalog, where I get my quick horror fixes. So, I knew the kind of horror the creators of Channel Zero were aiming for when I realized the source of their stories. It's the creep under your skin kind of horror, the ones with the quiet build-up that starts to unsettle you after some time and then, when done right, leaves you freaked out at its end. They're the stories that make you wonder about what lurks in the dark or the dark side of humanity. It's the stories that are unbelievable on paper, but when told a certain way, make you think about possibilities or plausibility.
I have to say upfront, this isn't a show that you should watch just to pass time and definitely not when you're looking for something to make you feel good. There's a lot of weird imagery, courtesy of that damn puppet show, real-life costume versions of the show's characters, and, of course, that damn teeth creature and its damn strange sounds. Oh, and kids do some unspeakable things in this one. I'm kind of regretting watching it, but only because I could only take this kind of horror in small doses. Channel Zero came to creep the hell out of people, and it did it with success. So, if creepy, disturbing viewing is your choice of entertainment, then this one's for you.
There's a lot of different elements that make Channel Zero effective as a horror show. Most of the show occurs in a small town, with a low population count that account for long memories about an unsolved mystery that occurred decades ago. But Channel Zero doesn't drown viewers with horror imagery from the get-go. In fact, you will notice an everyday quality to the scenes, which they partner with understated acting. The starkness makes moments of horror and bursts of emotion all the more striking when they do crop up. As you continue to watch the series, you will find yourself with a growing sense of unease that would later build up to dread, even when the scenes happens in daylight. And scenes of the Candle Cove program running on screen while children watch with blank faces will stay with me for a while.
I'm still on the fence if this would have been a better show to tell in a one-story-per-episode format (if you've ever visited Creepypasta, you'd know that they have a ton of stories to choose from there). There are episodes that seemed to be a little slower in pacing and some scenes that wouldn't have affected the overall outcome if they didn't make the cut. But then again, a six episode run also gave the story a chance to explore the characters and the reason for their actions, such as Mike's knowledge about what truly happened to Eddie and the other four kids, Marla's constant struggle with the tragedy that befell her family, and how life is lived for those left behind in Iron Hill. It makes for great character studies, even without the whole Candle Cove and creepy children doing creepy things elements.
I enjoyed watching Channel Zero, although, when I say enjoy, I meant properly creeped out by it. But when you're talking about a horror TV show, then you know that meant they succeeded. Make sure to have something light and non-paranormal lined up after watching this.
Happy scared viewing!!Labels: Adaptation, Anthology, Candle Cove, Channel Zero, Drama, Horror, iFlix, Must-Watch, Supernatural, Syfy, TV, TV Series
